Telangana takes novel initiative to feed tigers and leopards in forest reserves

Using scientific method and procedure, the Telangana Forest Department is increasing the prey base for tigers and leopards in the region while at the same time taking care of the increasing population of wild herbivores in zoos and parks. As part of this relocation programme, spotted deer were released in Warangal district’s Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday.

In the last three months the State’s Forest Department has shifted 13 sambars, six peafowls and 20 spotted deer to Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary and Amrabad Tiger Reserve from Nehru Zoo Park in Hyderabad and Kakatiya Zoo Park in Warangal.

The department also intends to move more than 400 spotted deer and black buck and nilgai from the Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park and Hyderabad Zoo to areas populated with tigers, leopards and other predators.

Deer parks located at Kinnerasani, LMD Karimnagar and Shamirpet and zoos in Mahbubnagar, Hyderabad and Hanamkonda are witnessing a spike in the herbivorous population. While the prey base in Pakhal, Kinnerasani and Eturnagaram wildlife sanctuaries and Kawal and Amrabad tiger reserves is decreasing thus making it necessary to move the herbivores there.

While following translocation under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the staff ensure that the animals are released in their natural habitat which has a lot of water and green grass to enable them to settle down and thrive. Further, these animals are constantly monitored by the staff for three months or till the time they are at home with the local population of herbivores.